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No Surplus or Shortage

An episode of the King's Table Church Sermons podcast, hosted by Steve Savage, titled "No Surplus or Shortage" was published on July 16, 2023 and runs 32 minutes.

July 16, 2023 ·32m · King's Table Church Sermons

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In the wilderness, Israel complains about their lack of food. They even look back fondly on their days of slavery and pots of stewed meat – even considering a return to bondage in Egypt. But the Lord sends quail and bread from heaven (even to the point of providing “all the bread they could want”). He gives clear instructions about the gathering of this bread to ensure that Israel daily depends on his provision. Some of them try to squirrel away leftovers and the bread rots by morning. But the text makes clear that no matter what they needed or what they gathered, they were given no surplus and no shortage.We find ourselves wondering if the things we want and need might be found back in the land of bondage – that dabbling in sin might take the edge of our appetite. But real satisfaction is only in Jesus – and only in daily dependence on Jesus! So, we pray with Proverbs 30:8, “Give me neither poverty nor riches.” We give because we recognize that our possessions have a tendency to possess us. And it is sweeter to live in daily dependence. We cherish what the Lord gives us, and we steward all of it knowing that it is not ours but his. We bring in to send out – and when we send, we send our best.

In the wilderness, Israel complains about their lack of food. They even look back fondly on their days of slavery and pots of stewed meat – even considering a return to bondage in Egypt. But the Lord sends quail and bread from heaven (even to the point of providing “all the bread they could want”). He gives clear instructions about the gathering of this bread to ensure that Israel daily depends on his provision. Some of them try to squirrel away leftovers and the bread rots by morning. But the text makes clear that no matter what they needed or what they gathered, they were given no surplus and no shortage.


We find ourselves wondering if the things we want and need might be found back in the land of bondage – that dabbling in sin might take the edge of our appetite. But real satisfaction is only in Jesus – and only in daily dependence on Jesus! So, we pray with Proverbs 30:8, “Give me neither poverty nor riches.” We give because we recognize that our possessions have a tendency to possess us. And it is sweeter to live in daily dependence. We cherish what the Lord gives us, and we steward all of it knowing that it is not ours but his. We bring in to send out – and when we send, we send our best.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Unknown Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a late 14th-century Middle English alliterative romance outlining an adventure of Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur's Round Table. In the tale, Sir Gawain accepts a challenge from a mysterious warrior who is completely green, from his clothes and hair to his beard and skin. The "Green Knight" offers to allow anyone to strike him with his axe if the challenger will take a return blow in a year and a day. Gawain accepts, and beheads him in one blow, only to have the Green Knight stand up, pick up his head, and remind Gawain to meet him at the appointed time. The story of Gawain's struggle to meet the appointment and his adventures along the way demonstrate the spirit of chivalry and loyalty. (Wikipedia) This 20th Century rendering is by WA Neilson. Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages by Wilhelm Wägner (1800 - 1886) LibriVox This volume contains the principal hero-lays of the six great epic cycles of the Teutonic Middle Ages: The Langobardian Legends, the Amelung and Kindred Legends; Dietrich of Bern's Adventures; the Nibelung Legends; the Hegeling Legends; and Beowulf. To them, the author has added the great mythical Carolingian cycle, which centred round the persons of Charlemagne and his heroes, and the Breton ones of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, as well as the legend of the Holy Grail. Therefore, this one book tells all of the great epic and romances of the Middle Ages in accessible language for the general public. (Summary by Leni) The Winter's Tale William Shakespeare Mad with jealousy, King Leontes of Sicilia orders his best friend Polixenes killed, his child abandoned, and his wife put on trial for adultery. Sixteen years later, Perdita, raised as a shepherd's daughter, falls in love with Polixenes's royal son and returns to her father's kingdom. (Summary by Arielle Lipshaw)Cast:Antigonus: John DoyleArchidamus: David NicolAutolycus: Algy PugCamillo: mbCleomenes: Vicente Costa FilhoClown: BaggzDion: Robert FletcherDorcas: Patti CunninghamEmilia: Laurie Anne WaldenFirst Gentlem Mark Twain's Journal Writings, Volume 1 by Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) LibriVox Volume 1 contains these 12 essays: 1.) "Americans on a Visit to the Emperor of Russia." 2.) "The Austrian Edison keeping school again" 3.) "The Canvasser's tale." 4.) "The Czar's Soliloquy." 5.) "English as She is Taught." 6.) "Grasses in the South." 7.) "Hawaii." 8.) "A Helpless Situation." 9.) "How I Escaped being Killed in a Duel." 10.) "Important to Whom it may Concern." 11.) "The Austrian Edison Keeping School Again" 12.) "Jim's Investments, and King Sollermun." (Summary by John Greenman)
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